Golf putting game and practice tool

ABSTRACT

A gulf putting game and practice tool has a plank that has several marks equidistant and that places the balls correctly on a planar surface. The surface can be synthetic or natural grass. The marks on the plank are used to always position the ball correctly to the right place. On a synthetic surface, at one end of the member is a target having a detector that sends out a signal to indicate when the ball goes into a target successfully. A fence member prevents further progression from the ball. On a natural surface, the target is a standard golf hole in the ground.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to games but more particularly to a gulf putting game and practice tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There will never be enough games, accessories, practice equipments for golfing, and so, there is always a need for a new way to practice the game of golf and introduce young people to this sport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:

To provide for a way to practice putting while making it a game that many people can play at in a competitive manner and keep statistics.

In order to do so, the invention comprises a plank that has several marks equidistant distance markings and that places the balls in openings and wherein each said opening having a diameter large enough to allow for a golf ball to pass therethrough.

The golf putting game and practice tool has a method of playing consisting in the steps of having a user place the plank on the ground, placing golf balls in at least one of the plurality of openings. The user removing the plank so as to putt the balls.

Alternatively, the user can lift the plank while leaving the balls unmoved and placing the plank aside.

The user can alternatively flip the plank over so as to leave the balls unmoved while keeping the plank close to the balls so that the indicia are visible so as to help in the evaluation of the user.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 Isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A golf putting game (10) has a planar surface member (12), preferably in the form of a rigid plank (24) having a plurality of distance markings (14). The distance markings (14) are further comprised of ball positioning indicia (18) used for the proper positioning of golf balls (16). The indicia (18) consist in openings (17) having a diameter large enough to allow for a golf ball (16) to pass therethrough. This makes the plank (24) perforated with a plurality of openings. At one end of the surface member (12) is a target (20) having a detector (22) that sends out an audible and/or visual signal to indicate when the golf ball (16) successfully goes into the target. A fence member (28) prevents the balls (16) from rolling off too far—if they miss the target (20)—for easy retrieval later. Optionally, a video camera (34) can be located behind the target (20) to record the entry of the ball (16) and the player in action.

The planar surface member (12) can be made of a rigid material or a flexible material that can be folded up or rolled up. The plank (24) can be used advantageously on an outdoor environment, on a ground surface that is somewhat uneven. In such a case, the plank (24) would present a smooth playable surface. Another advantage of using the plank (24), in an exterior location, is that it can have real holes that allow for further digging into the actual ground itself. Yet another advantage of using the plank (24) is that after holes are dug in the ground, they are properly aligned from using the plank (24) as a template which is then removed. The plank (24) can be made of a single long piece or a hingedly articulated, so as to be compactly folded.

A player (32) starts putting from the ball (18) closest to the target (20) and works his way back. VVhoever hits the ball trough the target (20) and rings the bell (22) most, with extra points according to distance, wins.

When using the plank (24) as a teaching aid or practice tool, A user places plank (24) on the ground, puts golf balls (16) in as many openings (17) as he wants so that the balls (16) are evenly spaced apart. The user then removes the plank (24) either by lifting it and putting it aside, this leaving the balls (16) on the ground, or flipping the plank (24) over so as to leave the balls (16) unmoved while keeping the plank (24) close to the balls (16) so that the indicia (18) are visible and can help in the evaluation of the user.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. For example, although golf balls are used in the description, other type of balls or projectiles can be used. The target can have several additional features when combined with electronic or mechanical elements. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A golf putting game has a plank having a plurality of distance markings; said distance markings being further comprised of ball positioning indicia; said indicia consisting in openings and wherein each said opening having a diameter large enough to allow for a golf ball to pass therethrough.
 8. The golf putting game of claim 7 having a method of playing consisting in the steps of having a user place said plank on the ground, placing golf balls in at least one of said plurality of openings; said user removing said plank so as to putt said balls.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said user lifts said plank while leaving said balls unmoved and puts said planar surface aside.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein said user flips said plank over so as to leave said balls unmoved while keeping said plank close to said balls so that said indicia are visible so as to help in the evaluation of said user. 